April 28, 2026

Executive Shuffle at El Cortez: Or, Why Downtown Needs More Steak

Yours truly has a soft spot for the El Cortez. It’s the kind of joint where you can still smell ambition mixed with stale cigarette smoke, and frankly, we appreciate that authenticity. So, naturally, when the brass decided to shake up the leadership structure, we had to investigate. Because what’s a leadership change if not an excuse to make fun of corporate titles?

We’ve got four new (or newly promoted) heavy hitters taking the reins. Adam Wiesberg is now VP and General Manager, which means he’s now the designated adult in the room. Patrick Lazarus is VP and Director of Casino Operations—I assume this means he’s in charge of making sure the slots aren’t actively stealing our children’s college funds. Nords Malilay is the new VP of Player Development and Casino Marketing, which sounds suspiciously like a polite way to say he’s getting paid to flirt with whales. And finally, Bart Mahoney joins as VP of Hospitality, likely so he can oversee the impending demolition of a local landmark.

The CEO, Kenny Epstein—a man so steeped in Vegas history he probably remembers when the Flamingo was just a swamp—issued a statement about “recognizing dedication” and how the team has “deep roots” in the industry as they approach their 85th anniversary. We once told Mr. Epstein that calling his establishment a “property” sucks the joy out of gaming. He laughed and suggested we weren’t welcome anymore. We told him we made up the quote, too, and then immediately won four deuces and a kicker. We’re still waiting to hear if we’re officially persona non grata.

But wait, there’s more intrigue than just happy executives! We were the first to spill the beans about Siegel’s 1941 closing for a much-needed renovation starting April 5th. Yes, the place that serves food that seems confused about its own heritage is getting a facelift. A rebrand decision is pending, which is industry code for: “We’re probably putting in a steakhouse.”

Let’s talk personnel, briefly. Wiesberg, the new GM, is apparently famous because he shows up in gambling influencer videos. Approachable, they say. Good for him; at least someone in management understands that the new generation of gamblers requires visual stimulation beyond peeling wallpaper.

Lazarus, the casino ops guy, apparently paid his dues at places like Binion’s. We don’t know his sense of humor yet, so we’re holding off on the snark until we confirm he won’t have us “unalived” for a bad joke. Downtown, you can’t afford to offend the wrong shift manager.

Malilay, the marketing guy, is apparently a good egg who likes our blog. Since he’s nice to us, we are contractually obligated (by our own ego) to state that he’s the best human being to ever manage comp dollars.

Then there’s Mahoney, the new Hospitality VP, who comes from the shimmering towers of Resorts World and Wynn. Perfect. He’s the guy we corner the minute Siegel’s 1941 closes. If El Cortez wants to stop being known for “great value” and start being known for “great food,” they need a steakhouse. Mahoney is now officially on notice to deliver the cow.

The beauty of El Cortez is that you can actually run into these executives on the floor without needing a warrant or a tour guide. They aren’t wearing the stiff suits that scare off the riff-raff. They’ve managed to pull off the impossible: appealing to the old-school slot grinders while simultaneously attracting the youth flocking from the Fremont East district bars. They dropped $20 million on an expansion last year, and instead of becoming another soulless mega-resort, they just got cooler.

They actually got approval to become adult-only, which is a massive win for anyone tired of strollers near the blackjack tables. They’re modernizing without flushing their entire identity down the drain.

Look, executive appointments are usually the most boring news in Vegas, but these people set the culture. Good leaders embrace the weirdos who film themselves winning on YouTube; bad leaders try to protect their little kingdoms. El Cortez seems to have chosen the former path, even if their bar payout tables are criminally stingy. It’s still Vegas’s oldest casino, clinging to the past while somehow managing to look forward. And for that, we salute them—until they raise the price of a well drink.